Maximizing Social Maximizing Security Benefits Social Security Benefits Presented by: Kelli Send Principal Senior Vice President Participant Services Francis Investment Counsel LLC
What we will cover today Social Security: The Basics Strategies to Maximize Benefits
What does OASDI stand for? A. One s Allowed Security Deserved Income B. Oh, Americans Savings Did Increase C. Old-Age Survivors Disability Insurance D. Old-Adults Special Deposit Income The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed.
Will Social Security Be There for Me? Today s Workers & Employers $ flow through Today s Beneficiaries: Retirees Disabled Survivors of workers who have died Dependents (Children)
Lots of ideas of ways to fix Social Security
Social Security Basics Who is eligible? When are you eligible? What benefits can you expect? How do you apply?
Who is Eligible? Earn social security credits, earning a maximum of four credits per year Fully insured and eligible after 40 credits (10 years) Benefit based on top 35 years of income (may include $0, if no work history) The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed. Source: www.ssa.gov/pubs/en-05-10035.pdf
When are You Eligible? age 62 Early retirement Benefits may start, but checks will be reduced for life. Benefits withheld if you keep working and exceed income limits. Please seek advice from a tax advisor. Francis Investment Counsel does not give tax or legal advice.
When are You Eligible? age 65-67 Full Retirement Age - depends on your birth year earnings limits disappear Please seek advice from a tax advisor. Francis Investment Counsel does not give tax or legal advice.
Full Retirement Age The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed. Source: www.ssa.gov/pubs/en-05-10035.pdf
When are You Eligible? age 70 Increased benefits if you wait beyond FRA end. Please seek advice from a tax advisor. Francis Investment Counsel does not give tax or legal advice.
Monthly benefits increase by how much annually if you delay collecting? A. 2% B. 4% C. 6% D. 8% The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed. Source: www.ssa.gov/pubs/en-05-10035.pdf
Let s Meet Tom Fuller Full Ret Age = 66 Monthly benefit at 62 = $645 Monthly benefit at 66 = $900 Monthly benefit at 70 = $1,224 The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed. Source: www.ssa.gov/pubs/en-05-10035.pdf
Who is Eligible for Social Security? You qualify for your own benefit OR ½ of spouses whichever is higher The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed. Source: www.ssa.gov/pubs/en-05-10035.pdf
Let s Meet Tom s Spouse Sheila Full Ret Age = 66 Monthly benefit at 62 = $1,576 Monthly benefit at 66 = $2,200 Monthly benefit at 70 = $2,993 The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed. Source: www.ssa.gov/pubs/en-05-10035.pdf
Meet the Fullers Monthly benefit if they each claim on their own record: Tom: $900 Sheila: $2,200 TOTAL: $3,100 Monthly benefit if Tom claims as spouse: Tom: $1,100 Sheila: $2,200 TOTAL: $3,300 The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed.
Who is Eligible for Social Security? Children qualify too if you collect and they are under age 18 or up to 19 if still in high school The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed. Source: www.ssa.gov/pubs/en-05-10035.pdf
Let s Meet Their Child Sienna Qualifies for benefit of ½ of worker s full retirement age (FRA) benefit Monthly benefit = $1,100 (until she s 18 or out of high school) The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed. Source: www.ssa.gov/pubs/en-05-10035.pdf
Who is Eligible for Social Security? Divorced spouses age 62 or older qualify as spouse if marriage lasted 10 years or longer (and they aren t remarried) The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed. Source: www.ssa.gov/pubs/en-05-10035.pdf
Meet Sheila s Ex Frank Marriage lasted 11 years Full Ret Age = 66 Monthly Benefit = $800 Unmarried Qualifies for benefit of ½ of worker s full retirement age (FRA) benefit Monthly benefits: Worker: $800 Ex-Spouse: $1,100 The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed. Source: www.ssa.gov/pubs/en-05-10035.pdf
Two Things to Think About The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed. Source: www.ssa.gov/pubs/en-05-10035.pdf
If You Collect Social Security Early and Continue to Work 2018 Retirement Earnings Limits Under FRA $17,040/year $1 of benefits withheld for every $2 in earnings above the limit Year Individual reaches FRA $45,380/year $1 of benefits withheld for every $3 in earnings above the limit for months prior to attaining FRA Month individual reaches FRA and beyond Unlimited Reduction no longer applies The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed. Source: www.socialsecurity.gov/planners/retire/whileworking.html
Your Benefit Becomes Taxable as Your Income Rises Filing Status Provisional Income = earnings (pensions, pre-tax 401(k) withdrawals, dividends, taxable interest from investments ) + interest on tax-exempt bonds + 50% of SS benefit Amount of SS subject to tax Single Or Head of Household Under $25,000 $25,000 - $34,000 Over $34,000 0 50% 85% Married, Filing Jointly Under $32,000 $32,000 - $44,000 Over $44,000 0 50% 85% The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed. Source: www.socialsecurity.gov/planners/taxes.html Roth distributions don t count as income!
Find Out Your Benefits
What we will cover today Social Security: The Basics Strategies to Maximize Benefits
To really know which strategy is best, you would need to know When you will pass away
Strategies to Maximize Social Security Benefits Delay taking benefits
It May Pay to Wait Age Sample Monthly Benefit 62 $1,500 66 74 $1,656 $2,208 $2,017 $2,690 Collect at 62 Collect at 66 Breakeven Point 81 $2,398 $3,197 Source: What You Need To Know About Social Security, Money Magazine, October 2009. The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed.
Strategies to Maximize Social Security Benefits Delay taking benefits Coordinate spousal benefits
Ground Rules on Spousal Benefits Can t collect a spousal benefit until worker files for own benefit (unless divorced) Spousal benefit reduced if spouse collects before FRA but won t increase if delayed past FRA The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed.
Have One Spouse Wait to Collect
Have One Spouse Wait to Collect Tom Full Ret Age = 66 Monthly benefit at 62 = $645 Monthly benefit at 66 = $900 Monthly benefit at 70 = $1,224 Sheila Full Ret Age = 66 Monthly benefit at 62 = $1,576 Monthly benefit at 66 = $2,200 Monthly benefit at 70 = $2,993 The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed.
Have One Spouse Wait to Collect Tom Full Ret Age = 66 Monthly benefit at 62 = $645 X Monthly benefit at 66 = $900 Monthly benefit at 70 = $1,224 Sheila Full Ret Age = 66 Monthly benefit at 62 = $1,576 Monthly benefit at 66 = $2,200 Monthly benefit at 70 = $2,993 New Spousal Benefit = $1,100 When Sheila collects Tom switches to his spousal benefit The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed.
Collecting Survivor Benefits Surviving spouses can collect on deceased worker s record if married for at least nine months Survivor receives 100% of full benefit at FRA, they can collect a reduced benefit as early as age 60 The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed. Source: www.ssa.gov/pubs/en-05-10035.pdf
Survivor Benefits Tom Full Ret Age = 66 Monthly benefit at 62 = $645 Monthly benefit at 66 = $900 Monthly benefit at 70 = $1,224 Sheila Full Ret Age = 66 Monthly benefit at 62 = $1,576 Monthly benefit at 66 = $2,200 Monthly benefit at 70 = $2,993 Higher Benefit Survives the First Death The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed.
Collecting Survivor Benefits Divorced spouse can claim survivor benefit if marriage lasted 10 years If entitled to both individual and survivor benefits, can begin to collect one, then switch to the other at a later date Monthly benefits if Sheila lives: Ex-Spouse: $1,100 Monthly benefits at Sheila s passing: Ex-Spouse: $2,200 The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed. Source: www.ssa.gov/pubs/en-05-10035.pdf
Collecting Survivor Benefits Monthly benefits if Sheila lives: Ex-Spouse: $1,100 Monthly benefits at Sheila s passing: Ex-Spouse: $2,200 The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed. Source: www.ssa.gov/pubs/en-05-10035.pdf
File and Suspend: No Longer Allowed Can still do this IF you have reached FRA before April 30, 2016 Higher wage earner applies at FRA then suspends Lower wage earner THEN can start on the spousal benefit Allows higher wage earner s benefit to grow NOW no longer allowed! The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed. Source: https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/claiming.html
Restricted Application: No Longer Allowed At FRA, wage earner restricts their benefit to only spousal benefit then switches over to own later NOW when you file, you get the higher of the two Can still do this IF you were born before 1954 The summary contained herein have been obtained from sources believed reliable but are not necessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed. Source: https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/claiming.html
Learn More Visit www.ssa.gov, or call 800-722-1213 Or visit a local office